Sweet William
Dianthus barbatus
A favorite in early American gardens and equally popular today. Native to Southern Europe, its clusters of blooms in a wide variety of hues attract multiple pollinators.
Sweet William was one of Jefferson's favorite herbaceous ornamentals. He observed "sweet William began to open" at Shadwell on April 16, 1767, reported flowers in May and June of 1782, and also had this biennial planted in an oval flower bed at Monticello in 1807. This species is often associated with early American Gardens and continues to be cherished for its red, pink, and white blooms.
In Bloom at Monticello is made possible by support from The Richard D. and Carolyn W. Jacques Foundation.
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Between April and October, all house tours come with a free guided Garden Tour, or you can explore the grounds on your own with the Bloomberg Connects App
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Heirloom Seeds and Plants from the Monticello collection
Plant history in your gardens with seeds and plants from Monticello and the Thomas Jefferson Center for Historic Plants.
